Environmental group tees up anti-Chevron tweets with #AskChevron hashtag

Environmental group Toxic Effect sponsored the #AskChevron Twitter hashtag on Wednesday, prompting its fair share of desired negative responses from users about allegations of pollution by the energy company.

Environmental group Toxic Effect sponsored the #AskChevron Twitter hashtag on Wednesday, prompting its fair share of desired negative responses from users about allegations of pollution by the energy company.

The organization clearly took note of recent social media marketing disasters, such as investment bank JPMorgan Chase’s failed #AskJPM campaign and the New York Police Department’s #myNYPD effort, and used the fake open-Q&A-session tactic against Chevron.

Many Twitter users’ responses indicated they were not aware the campaign did not originate with Chevron. It began with questions from Toxic Effect last night. Since then, supporters and members of the general public have also put in their two cents.

Morgan Crinklaw, Chevron's manager of issues management and litigation communications, told PRWeek that the company views the initiative as nothing more than "inconsequential noise."

"The time and money spent on this stunt would be better spent helping the people these groups claim to represent," he said. "Those who continue to advance the fraudulent claims against Chevron, including PR agencies, are not being transparent or honest."